[Az-Geocaching] Mummy's Surprise Rating

[RopingThe Wind]

>-----Original Message-----
>From: az-geocaching-admin@listserv.azgeocaching.com
>[mailto:az-geocaching-admin@listserv.azgeocaching.com]On Behalf Of
>Trisha
>Sent: Saturday, May 01, 2004 9:25 AM
>To: listserv@azgeocaching.com
>Subject: RE: [Az-Geocaching] Mummy's Surprise Rating
>
>
>Hey Guy,
>
>Don't think of it as "caving to peer pressure", think of it as
>responding to (hopefully) reasonable and logical suggestions! :-)
>
>I have dealt with this very issue on two of my currently active
>caches. For "Art ROCKS!" (GCHK6F) one can walk or "wheel" right up
>next to the cache, and I checked the pathway approach for barriers, so
>I made it a "1" on purpose. It's a beautiful and interesting setting
>so I wanted ALL to be able to enjoy it while getting a "find". I could
>have placed the cache just out of reach, (therefore making it a "1.5")
>but intentionally did not for those reasons.
>
>Similar with my "Is that what I THINK it is?" There were many places I
>could have hidden this just off trail/road and therefore not
>handicapped accessible, but I chose to make it available to all. It is
>also a "1". (My other caches are 1.5, 2, 2.2...depending)
>
>Thanks for being willing to listen, you are a great person and a great
>cacher! Evil, but great!! :-)
>
>Trisha "Lightning"
>Prescott


The Terrain rating of a cache is something that SO irks me sometimes!!! 
Trisha summed it up well on the rating of a cache on the low end of the 
scale. If it is literally a wheelchair accessible cache, then a 1.0 is in 
order for terrain. If it is on a trail, totally flat, and wheelchair 
accessible right up to it, but out of reach... then, it could be given a 
1.5.

On the other end of the scale....

I have seen caches that are your typical 'on top of a mountain' and hiking 
and climbing caches that have been given 5's before. If I recall, I think 
Bronco Butte was given a 5. A cache cannot be given a 5 unless it requires 
special equiptment to reach (ok, that is a  whole nuther' debate!). If you 
need rock climbing clear or scuba gear, etc that could go a 5.0 on terrain. 
So, with that said... the absolute most difficult hiking/off road/wilderness 
cache can only be given a 4.5 max. If you use the rating sytem on the main 
site, it can give a 4+ to a cache that requires bushwacking, no trail, and a 
lengthy hike... even though it may be a flat hike. I just kind of used my 
own thoughts when I rated my cache (after using the system of course). I 
rated both my RTW caches with a terrain of 4.0. The system suggested they 
were both 4.5. I didnt feel they were 4.5 simply because there are other 
caches out there that are more difficult. In my opinion, I think Lost Ark 
was a more difficult climb/hike than either of my caches. I think Newman 
Peak would also be a much tougher hike (although I havent done that one 
yet). I can name a couple of other caches that are more difficult than mine. 
So, I rated them a 4.0. A 4 is still a high terrain rating and shows that 
they are difficult caches still.

I have done hiking caches that were easily under 1 or 2 miles, that were on 
totally flat ground, but where off trail that were given 5's! The owner of 
the cache probably figured it was the toughest hike they ever made and so 
rated it with the 5 thinking (in their minds) that is was a really difficult 
cache, when actually, when compared with others.. it is a peice of cake.

Bronco Butte was hidden by a someone who landed up there in a helicopter. He 
thought it was going to be the toughest cache ever. Truth is... there is a 
trail that goes up there!!! :) Granted, it is a tough hike and not for the 
weak... but, there is a trail. Still, it would warrant at least a 4 on 
terrain. I think RTW-1 and 2 are tougher since there is no trail up those. 
Bronco Butte has a decently defined trail and so that alone makes it a bit 
easier hike. Once on top, you have a fairly flat hike to the cache. Lost Ark 
cache (now archived) required a fairly lengthy hike (on fairly flat ground) 
just to get to the base. Once, there... you still had 0.8 mile to go... but, 
it was all up!... and I mean UP!!! I think that cache took longer to reach 
the top than (in terms of the GPS not wanting to click off mileage!) any 
cache I have done to date. I had teamed up with Frobro Goose and Frobro 
D-Dubs for that one. We did it in the middle of July. :)

As far as the difficulty rating goes... Bronco Butte was WAY over rated. 
They gave it a 4. Diff rating is about how hard it is to find the cache. It 
was basically laying out in the open (there is no place to really hide it up 
there in the immediate area). Not that anyone is going to mess with it way 
up there! (I wouldnt think anyways).

interesting side note on Bronco Butte... I just looked at the cache page and 
Team Ropingthewind is still the last team to find it! We found it way back 
on June 9, 2004 (another attempt at capitol punishment... doing it on a hot 
summer day!). There was a no find log on April 11, 2003... but, they didnt 
really 'not find' it. They didnt make it to the cache site and ended up 
turning back. It is an interesting log... read it! I cant beleive no one has 
even attempted that cache in two years!!!!! That is a very beautiful hike 
with some SPECTACULAR scenery along the way and at the top. I highly 
recommend the hike. Unless the cache is not there anymore, anyone interested 
in a really good workout and some awsome views.... I highly recommend doing 
this cache.

Scott
Team Ropingthewind

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